Chair.



M. ANTHONY.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 8, 1909. 945, 149. Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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M. ANTHONY.

CHAIR.

APPLIOATION rump MAB. s. 1900.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MARK ANTHONY, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Application filed March 6, 1909. Serial No. 481,648.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Streator, in the county of Lasalle and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Chair, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention aims to improve generally the construction ofchairs, and more specifically the construction of reclining chairs.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a chair whichmay be adjusted without the necessity of rising from the chair, meansbeing provided at a point convenient to the hand of the occupant of thechair, whereby the back and seat thereof may be quickly and readilyadjusted to practically any desired position without the necessity ofrising, as before stated.

In attaining the object in View, the invention aims to utilize as simplea mechanism as can be employed to produce the result and such mechanismwill presently be fully described and is clearly shown in the severalfigures of the drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a chair embodying the invention. Fig.2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section of the chair showingthe same folded and packed within a box or crate. Fig. 3 is a detailvertical sectional view showing the manner of mounting and the means foroperating the oscillatory pawl element of the chair adjusting mechanism.Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one end of this pawl element, and,-Fig.5 is a detail sectional view showing the pawl in normal position in fulllines and in release position in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a similar Viewshowing a modified form of pawl element.

In the drawings, the chair is shown as comprising a body frame in whichis adjustably mounted the seat and back of the chair and this body frameis comprised in part of four corner posts which are inclicated by thenumeral 7. The corner posts at the front of the chair are connected by afront cross piece 8 and those at the rear of the chair by a similarcross piece 9, and cross pieces 10 connect the corner osts atcorresponding sides of the said b0 y frame.

The usual arms 11 are supported upon the upper ends of the corner posts7 at corresponding sides of the frame and are, as will be readi yunderstood, fixed with respect to this body frame.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the seat of the chair is in the formof a rectangular frame the forward member of which is indicated by thenumeral 12, the corres 0nding or rear member by 13, and the sides by thenumeral 1 1, all of these members of the frame being in the form ofstrips of the proper dimensions.

The sides 14 of the seat frame rest upon the forward cross piece 8 ofthe body frame of the chair as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings and in order to support said seat frame at its rear so as tohold the frame against dropping, the ends of the rear end member 13 ofthe seat frame are extended beyond the outer edges or sides of the sidemembers 14 of the frame, as indicated by the numeral 15 and theseprojecting ends of the said member 13 work in grooves 16 formed in theinner or opposing faces or sides of the corresponding cross pieces 10 ofthe body frame of the chair, which pieces 10, as previously explainedconnect the corner posts 7 at the corresponding sides of the said bodyframe.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the seat frame isslidable in a direction from front to rear of the said body frame of thechair. A cushion of the usual character is of course to be disposed uponthe seat frame and it will be understood that this frame is to have asuitable supporting filling or web for preventing sagging of the cushionwhen disposed thereon.

Hinged to the rear of the seat frame is the back of the chair, thishinged connection being had between the rear end member 13 of the seatframe and the bottom or lowermost cleat 18 of the frame of the back, theback including also side members or stiles 19 and upper cleats 20 withintermediate cleats 21 located between the u )per and lower cleats 18and 20. The back of the chair is limited in its rearward swingingmovement by means of suitable rods 22 which at their forward ends arebent at right angles and pivoted, by means of suitable brackets 23,fixed upon the under side of one of the arms 11 of the chair frame, thearms extending rearwardly and having their rear ends bent inwardly atright angles as at 24;

and pivoted to the corresponding stile 19 of the back of the chair,brackets similar to-the brackets 23 being employed for this purpose.

The usual back cushion is to be disposed against the back of the chairas will be readily understood.

The means for holding the chair seat and back in adjusted position andfor permitting of adjustment of these elements of the chair while thechair is occupied, will now be described.

The means mentioned above, consists commonly speaking, of rack platescarried by the chair seat and a pawl device carried by the body frame ofthe chair and the rack plates are indicated by the numeral 25 and areformed at their lower edges each with a plurality of rack teeth 26. Eachof the plates 25 is formed, adjacent each end, with a verticallyextending slot 27 and the plates are supported upon the inner side facesof the side members 14 of the seat frame by means of securing elements28 which are engaged through the slots 27 and into the said side membersof the seat frame, it being understood of course that the rack platesare in this manner so supported that they may have free upward movementeither bodily or at either end and independently of the side members ofthe seat frame by which they are carried. The function of this featureof the invention will presently be fully explained.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings,

there is shown one form of pawl device for' cooperation with the rackplates just described and in these figures, the pawl devices illustratedas in the form of an angle bar one wing of which is indicated by thenumeral 29 and the other by the numeral 30, the wing 30 at one end beingextended beyond the wing 29 and being bent up and formed to afford ahandle. The other end of the wing 30 is also extended beyond thecorresponding wing 29 and is bent up at right angles to form an ear 32,there being a pivot bolt or stud 33 engaged through the ear 32 and asimilar bolt or stud 84; engaged through the operating handle 31adjacent the point of junction of the same with the wing 30, these pivotbolts or studs being threaded or otherwise secured in the cleats 10 ofthe body frame of the chair, it being understood of course that theangle bar is of a length substantially equal to the distance between theopposing or inner faces of the said cleats 10 and that by securing ormountin the bar in this manner, it is supported for oscillatory movementin a position transversely of the body frame of the chair. The angle baris sobalanced and its wings 29' and 80 are so proportioned that normallythe wing 30 is inclined slightly upwardly from front to rear whereas thewing 29 depends, the wing 29 extendingfroin the forward edge of the saidwing 30. p

As is clearly shown in the several figures of the drawings, the anglebar assuming this position, normally, engages under normal conditionscorresponding teeth of the two rack plates 25, this engagement being hadbetween the teeth and the rear edge of the wing 30 of the angle bar.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the pawl or angle bar above described isshown in full lines in normal position and as heretofore explained, whenin this position, the rear edge of its wing 30 is engaged bycorresponding teeth of both rack plates 25 and insaid Fig. 5 of thedrawings, the pawl is also shown in dotted lines in position to permitof adjustment of the seat from front to rear and when in this position,the lever 31, which projects upwardly through a slot 35 formed in theright or left hand cleat 10 of the chair body frame, is rockedrearwardly to lower the rear edge of the wing 30- of the pawl embodiedin the angle bar and to present the edge or bend between its two wingsto the teeth of the rack plate 25, it being understood that the teeth ofthe plate will readily ride over the bar when in this position and willthereby permit of adjustment of the seat of the chair without thenecessity of the occupant thereof arising.

It will of course be understood that forward and rearward adjustment ofthe seat will result in adjustment of the back of the chair as regardsits angle of inclination.

It will further be understood from the foregoing description that theseat frame does not lift as the teeth of the rack plate ride over thepawl but that these plates have relative movement with respect to thesides of the seat frame and that therefore the occupant of the chair isnot put to the necessity of lifting the seat or in acking the frameforwardly or rearwardly, the only exertion required being thatsufficient to rock the pawl.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, there is shown another form of pawl devicewhich may be employed in connection with the chair structure previouslydescribed including the rack plates 25 and in this figure of thedrawing, the pawl plate is illustrated as in the form of a length offlat bar metal 36 which at each end is formed with an eccentricallypositioned pivot stud 37, these studs being pivotally received inbearings 38 which are secured upon the opposing faces of the cleats 10of the body frame of the chair, an operating handle 85 being secured tothe bar 36 at one end thereof. Normally, that edge of the bar which islocated nearest the line of extent of the pivot studs 37, and isindicated by the numeral 40, is engaged by the teeth of the rack plate25 and it will be understood that by rocking this bar so as to elevateits opposite longitudinal edge, the before mentioned edge 40 will belowered out of such engagement with the teeth and the teeth will bepermitted to ride over the said opposite edge of the bar and the seatmay then be adjusted to any desired position.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the grooves 16 in which theprojecting ends of the rear end 18 of the seat frame slide, are formedin the opposing or inner faces of the cleat 10 of the body frame of thechair and at the forward ends of said cleats 10, these grooves opendownwardly through the lower edges of the said cleat as indicated by thenumeral 41 and it will be observed upon inspection of said Fig. 2 of thedrawing that by sliding the seat frame forwardly in the body frame untilthe projecting ends of the rear end cross piece 13 of the seat frame areat the forward end of the grooves 16 in the cleats 10, the rear end ofthe seat frame may then be dropped and the said seat frame and back maybe folded to the position shown in said Fig. 2 of the drawings, in whichposition the back and seat will lie entirely within the height and depthdimensions of the body frame of the chair so that when the back and seatof the chair are so positioned, the entire chair may be packed in asubstantially cubical box or crate and will then take up less room inshipping than does the ordinary Morris chair.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen thatthere is provided, by the structure of the invention, a Morris chair inwhich the seat and back may be readily and quickly adjusted to suit theoccupant of the chair and without the necessity of the occupant arisingfrom the chair, and it will further be observed that little or noexertion is required to adjust the seat and back of the chair.Furthermore, it will be observed from Fig. 2 of the drawings, that thereis provided a chair which may be packed in a substantially cubical or atleast rectangular crate or box and will then take up considerably lessroom than the ordinary chair of this type being shipped.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a chair, a frame, a seat slidable in theframe, a pawl mounted in the frame, means for rocking the pawl, a backconnected with the seat and frame, rack plates, each of said platesbeing formed at each end with a slot, securing supporting elementsengaged through the slots and holding the plates loosely to the seat,the plates resting normally in engagement with the pawl and being freelymovable vertically.

2. In a chair, a frame, a seat slidable in the frame, a pawl mounted inthe frame, means for rocking the pawl, a back connected with the seatand frame, rack plates, each of said plates being formed at each endwith a slot, securing supporting elements engaged through the slots andholding the plates loosely to the seat, the plates resting normally inengagement with the pawl and being freely movable vertically, said pawlcomprising an eccentrically mounted bar having one edge normallypresented for positive engagement with the teeth of said rack plate.

3. In a chair, a frame, a seat slidable in the frame, pawl bar mountedeccentrically for rocking movement in the frame transversely thereof,said bar normally having one edge presented in a plane above an oppositeedge, means for rocking the pawl, a back connected with the seat andframe, rack plates, each of said plates being formed at each end with aslot, securing supporting elements engaged through the slots and holdingthe plates loosely to the seat, the plates resting normally inengagement with the pawl bar and being freely movable vertically.

4. In a chair, a frame, a seat slidable in the frame, a pawl bar mountedeccentrically for rocking movement in the frame transversely thereof,said bar comprising angularly disposed wings, the bar being normally inposition with the edge of one wing presented in a plane above theremainder of the bar, means for rocking the bar, a back connected withthe seat and the frame, and rack members loosely resting in engagementwith the pawl bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARK ANTHONY. Witnesses S. M. PLUMLY, CARRIE I-I. ANTHONY.

